Start off your week with a hot dead guy

That’s right, another flyboy. And another fighter ace just like our friend Pierce McKennon. Sailor Malan was a South African pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Malan began his military career as a teenager at the South African Merchant Navy Academy, which is where he got the nickname “Sailor.” But in his 20s he learned how to fly a plane, and shortly afterwards he enlisted in the RAF.

Throughout the war Malan and his Spitfire kicked some serious Luftwaffe ass. As part of 74 Squadron he provided air support during the evacuation at Dunkirk and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery. During the Battle of Britain, Malan led 74 Squadron to an unprecedented 38 downed enemy aircraft in just one day.

A fearless and unorthodox pilot, Malan compiled a list that he called “My Ten Rules for Air Fighting”—which may as well have been called “My Ten Rules for Pilot Badassery.”

Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of one to two seconds only when your sights are definitely “ON.”

Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body: have both hands on the stick: concentrate on your ring sight.

Always keep a sharp lookout. “Keep your finger out.”

Height gives you the initiative.

Always turn and face the attack.

Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best.

Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area.

When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as a top guard.

INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAM WORK are words that MEAN something in Air Fighting.

Go in quickly – Punch hard – Get out!

I believe I’m getting a touch of The Vapors just reading this. Is it hot in here or is it just him??

Malan retired from the RAF as a top fighter ace with 32 confirmed kills. He went home to South Africa and founded an anti-Apartheid group called the Torch Commandos, in order to “oppose the police state, abuse of state power, censorship, racism, the removal of the Coloured vote and other oppressive manifestations of the creeping fascism of the National Party regime.” The Torch Commandos were in existence for only a short time. But Malan remained an outspoken opponent of Apartheid government until his death in 1963.

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57 responses to Start off your week with a hot dead guy

The biggest turn on for me may be his founding of the anti-Apartheid group – the Torch Commandos. Malan was obviously a man of real character and deep moral principles. Throw in his good looks and badassery and I think we can say he’s the whole package.

Oh, MW…I think it’s him (resulting in your vapors). I love flyboys and aviation men period. Many of this commandments could be applied to anything, especially #6 and #10. A very hot dead guy indeed and a nice way to start the week. Thank you.

This reminds me of a younger guy who taught science when I was in collage. All the ladies loved him, and it seemed like every class he’d say something in passing that made them like him all the more. Once (when explaining some principle) his ‘example’ keyed the class into the fact flew regularly, too. Really, giant muscular physics teacher guy? You’re a pilot, too? Why not? Great. Honestly, at some point it’s just not fair to everyone else. I’d have been pissed, but he was too nice a dude to really get mad at. Go figure.
🙂

I would have flunked that class for sure because I wouldn’t have paid much attention to anything except The Dreaminess. But you’re right, it’s not fair for one person to have all those things going for him. At some point you have to let everyone else have a sporting chance.

Amazing…I *just* read his ‘rules’ just a few hours ago in a book called ‘Spitfire’!

BTW … I have to query why some women seem to have such a ‘thing’ for pilots. I had a female colleague who seemed to get a little weak in the knees when in the presence of any pilot… not just the ones who were obviously handsome as far as I could see, but *any* pilot. I have met several female pilots I thought were gorgeous but I can’t really say that their occupation tickled me especially.

What a coinky-dink! I can’t explain the whole allure of pilots, sybaritica. Military pilots are insanely dreamy, although civilian pilots are dreamy too. I don’t know what it is, exactly.

As for your question, do you mean are there other occupations that make women weak in the knees? Science geeks do it for me, for sure. “Oh? You work with particle accelerators??? Swoon!” Surgeons do it for me too, even though I know a lot of them are arrogant SOBs.

Now you tell me—are there any occupations of women that make MEN weak in the knees? Besides stripper, I mean.

It must be very strange to see that area now, andromeda. Hard to picture what it was like 70 years ago, all that horror. So many battlefields, etc are like that. Beautiful and tranquil now, but you know how awful those places once were.

No voting for a while yet, I need to gather up another 15 guys for a new Sweet 16. Besides, I still have to finish writing my post about your girl Hedy. It’s going to be a Twofer—Hedy and another Hollywood lovely. But I won’t say more because it will spoil the surprise. I’ve already blabbed about the one, I’ll keep the other one secret.

Hey, I’m giving him credit where credit is due. He did a lot of great things. It’s that chin though! Maybe all the airplane flying causing the sides of his face to pull back thus forming a crack down the chin’s center?

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